Clippers 5, Mud Hens 1: Aguilar contributes before call-up

The guard changed in the right way for the Clippers last night in Huntington Park in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Jim Massie, The Columbus Dispatch

The guard changed in the right way for the Clippers last night in Huntington Park in the penultimate game of the regular season.

The parent Cleveland Indians announced their intention to take Columbus first baseman Jesus Aguilar with relief pitchers Austin Adams and Bryan Price when the major-league rosters expand today.

Aguilar still played in his 118th game for the Clippers, delivering a pair of singles and scoring a run in a 5-1 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens. He leaves with a .304 batting average and a team-leading 19 home runs and 77 RBI.

“I worked the whole season to be (in Cleveland),” Aguilar said. “And finally I’m going to be there. I’m going to try and help them in any way I can to make the playoffs.

“This is a great team here. I had so many great guys around me who teach me how I’ve got to play the game the right way. I’m going to try and take the good things (with me).”

Aguilar will miss the International League Governors’ Cup first-round series against the South Division champion Durham Bulls when it begins at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday in Huntington Park.

But he will be remembered as a major reason that the Clippers won their first West Division title in since 2011.

“He has played a huge factor in our lineup and defensively,” manager Chris Tremie said. “He has been in the middle of the order, the three or four hitter all year, and he has really helped us out in our run production.”

The Indians, who also recalled Columbus starting pitcher Zach McAllister yesterday, signed veteran free agent first baseman/designated hitter Russell Branyan on Friday for the Clippers. They added two relief pitchers from Akron, Adam Miller and Enosil Tejeda, last night.

Miller is well-known to Cleveland fans. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the organization from 2005 to ’08 before an injury to his right middle finger and multiple surgeries sidetracked his career.

He had two strikeouts in a perfect inning of relief against the Mud Hens, and showed a mid-90-mph fastball. The bullpen tacked on four shutout innings in relief of Toru Murata (5-3), who started on four days’ rest.

Miller left the Cleveland organization after the 2011 season and played one year in the New York Yankees minor-league system. He pitched for the independent league Sugar Land Skeeters in 2013 before re-signing with the Indians this season.

“This feels like my home,” he said. “I’ve been with the Indians organization forever. Just to be back is pretty exciting. This team is playing well right now and it’s a good time to be playing well.”

The Clippers gave Murata a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Francisco Lindor and an RBI single by Audy Ciriaco, who added a three-run home run in the seventh.